*Author's Note: Sorry for the super-shortness of this chapter, but I totally didn't have time to update over the weekend and I knew you would rather have an update than not.
Chapter 28
Bash stared at himself in the mirror. Everything seemed oddly familiar. The clothes were different this time, but the feelings they evoked were the same. How did his life turn out this way? He had never imagined he would be king of even one country, much less two.
A knock sounded on the chamber door and it opened before Bash could speak. Mary entered the room dressed in a shining amber colored gown embroidered with gold thread. She was stunning, and once again he was struck by how differently his life had turned out.
Since they were children, Mary had been promised to Francis. Bash had been envious of the match even before Mary returned from the convent. As soon as he saw her step from her carriage, he knew he was destined to love her and was resigned to do so from afar. He never imagined she could love him in return, but here she was, his wife.
He smiled at her. "Just when I think you couldn't possibly be more beautiful than the day our son was born, you prove me terribly wrong. You are positively radiant."
Mary blushed at his compliment and Bash's heart felt as if it would explode with his love for her. He loved that he could still make her blush like a maid.
Mary reached up to stroke his cheek with her hand.
"What could I have ever done to deserve you, Sebastian?"
"No, Your Grace, it is I that should be asking that question."
Their lips were but a breath apart when another knock sounded at the door.
Bash groaned and Mary laughed at the interruption. The guard on the other side stuck his head in the door.
"Your Grace, I was told to come and collect you."
Mary smiled as Bash took her hand to escort her to the ceremony.
"It is probably for the best that we were interrupted. You remember what happened last time?"
"Oh yes," Bash said, a grin erupting from his lips. "I remember very well."
Mary felt as if the entire coronation were a dream. She received her crown first, being the Queen Regnant. As she moved up the dais to claim her throne, she caught her mother's eye and was surprised to see her blinking back tears.
Mary turned and took her place on her throne, watching proudly as the crown was placed on Sebastian's head. Mary smiled wryly as she thought of how right a crown looked perched on his dark locks. His younger self would probably have been surprised to see he wore the title of King so well.
Mary caught his eye as he rose and he winked at her in his cheeky way, causing a grin to spread across her face. Bash took his seat beside Mary as the crowd bent their knees to the ruling couple. This time even Marie de Guise sank to the ground to honor the King and Queen of Scotland.
